House keen to conquer 'Warrnambool'
Three riders out to impress in this year's race
The nomadic Englishman Kristian House will have his fourth crack at winning the Shotz Sports Nutrition Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic and is eager to prove he can conquer the world’s longest one-day bike race.
He finished “down the track” at his initial attempt in 2005, was an honorable 12th the following year, and in 2007 was forced to surrender at the 140km mark with a broken wheel.
“The Melbourne to Warrnambool is the race I want to win,” House declared. “The classic is well-known all around the world. I often get asked about it in England. It has a great reputation.”
Founded in 1895, the “Warrnambool” is the world’s second oldest bike race and will start at 7.30 a.m. at Sanctuary Lakes Resort in the Wyndham City municipality.
It is the final round in the 2008 National Road Teams Series and has attracted a monstrous field of 204 riders, far surpassing the previous massed start record of 156 when the classic changed from a handicap format in 1996.
House was a member of England’s Rapha Condor team this year and won five races in the United States, France, Germany and England.
“It’s been a pretty good year for me," he said. "At a guess, I’ve done about 90 races, so I don’t need to do much more training for the Warrnambool.”
House’s best season was in 2006 when his victories included the Tour of Ireland and the Tour of Tasmania.
He returned to Australia for the Caterpillar Underground Mining Tour of Tasmania earlier this month and wore the leader’s yellow jersey for four stages before an unforgiving Category One climb at scenic Gunns Plains thwarted his bid for victory.
His plan for the Melbourne to Warrnambool is simple – try to establish at least a 30-second break on the tiring leading bunch about four kilometres from the finish and hang on.
“I am not relishing the final climb up Raglan Parade,” he said. “I’ve got to be on my own as the finish line approaches – I doubt that I could win in a bunch sprint.”
House, who will ride for the strong Budget Forklifts line-up, will face an army of challengers from competitors representing 35 teams.
Bendigo’s Tim Decker, winner of the 2007 classic at his 14th attempt, will aim to become only the fourth rider to twice win the race.
Reigning Victorian open road champion David Pell, also from Bendigo, is in career-best form, having also won the prestigious Grafton to Inverell event last month. He will have strong support from his Savings and Loans team.
There are two women in the field – Frankston’s Nicole Whitburn, and Davina Summers, from W.A.
Whitburn, 30, a design engineer who won the 2007 Victorian open criterium championship, said it was “a bit of a dream” to finish the race.
All riders who complete the course will receive an ornamental medallion from Warrnambool City Council.
Other special awards include the SEW-Eurodrive sprint championship, the Action Fitness Centre King of the Mountains title, and the Wyndham City Council Victorian 200km championship which is decided at Pirron Yallock.
There are 30 sprints and hill climbs along the route.
Sprints will be at Sanctuary Lakes, Point Cook, Werribee, Little River, Lara, Moorabool, Bell Post Hill, Batesford, Stonehaven, Murgheboluc, Inverleigh, Hesse, Cressy, Lake Corangamite, Beeac, Alvie, Pirron Yallock (200km championship), Pomborneit North, Camperdown, Boorcan, Terang, Garvoc, Panmure and Allansford.
Hill Climbs are at Elcho Park, Dog Rocks, Murgheboluc, Inverleigh, Alvie and Camperdown.
Total prizemoney is $17,000, plus trophies.
